Pop open the perfect partner for your meal
Take summer picnics, BBQs and al fresco dining to the next level with these perfect pairings, says Sam Wylie- Harris
Sometimes, especially during summer when you’re feeling footloose and fancy free, half the fun of opening a bottle of wine is thinking about what to eat with it.
Of course, it all depends what you’re in the mood for. Some wines, especially good- time wines, instantly evoke thoughts of fresh seafood – think langoustine with garlic mayonnaise for a taste of the Med – or flamed burgers and salad bowls for a hungrier crowd.
Some of the most delicious discoveries naturally pair with the local food in that region ( give a thought to what the winemaker might be tucking in to), while others fall into the anything goes category – put the bottle on the table and this versatile vino is so nonpareil, it will pimp up everything.
Looking for a wine to pair with flavoursome food this summer? Get the juices flowing with these seven top drops...
1. Silandeiro Rias Baixas Albarino 2019, Galicia, Spain, £ 6.99, Aldi Want to do more with that baked fish and Jersey Royals dish? Or crown that crab meat salad? Spain’s trendy white grape is the classic match for seafood, and a no- brainer when you consider albarino is local to Galicia’s Atlantic coast. With its its appealing freshness and marine, saline notes, with tell- tale minerality enhanced by floral aromas, peachy fruit and refreshing acidity, this is a brilliant white to enjoy with your catch of the day.
2. Cecchi Morellino Di Scansano 2019, Tuscany, Italy, £ 7.99 ( was £ 9.99), Waitrose If your malbec has lost its mojo, why not swap the Andes mountains for the medieval Italian countryside and crack open a smooth, stylish sangiovese? Not only will it give your flame- grilled burgers a Tuscan twist if you top them with caramelised onions, mixed herbs and pecorino cheese ( you can even try sandwiching the pattie between slices of focaccia), but the plump, red fruit flavours and lovely interplay between herbal notes, spice and dried cherry make for a moreish ruby red with a lasting finish.
3. Paul Mas Reserve Pinot Noir 2019, Languedoc, France, £ 8.75, Morrisons Fruit forward and a fabulous food wine with bags of sunkissed fruit, this plush pinot has plenty of gusto, with juicy blackberry, morello cherry and raspberry flavours and a sweet ripeness that slides into view on the velvety smooth finish. Talking of which, think pulled pork sliders with BBQ sauce, summer beef casserole ( half the pleasure is the chef’s perk of a quick glug while you’re cooking), seared salmon and tuna. Red wine with fish – absolutely!
4. La Belle Angele Rose 2019, France, £ 8.99, Majestic With its pretty postcard label and fashionable blushpink hue, this is the rose to recreate those precious holiday memories of ice buckets nestling among the bougainvillea at your favourite beach resort on the Cote d’Azur – even if you are under the shade of a parasol in the back garden this time.
Utterly gorgeous from the word go, with enticing scents of peaches and pretty florals, juicy flavours of wild berries and ripe stone fruits lend an exotic allure, supported by fine acidity. Extremely food friendly, sun- ripened tomato salad, chilled gazpacho and rotisserie chicken instantly come to mind, not to mention goats’ cheese and crusty baguettes, crudites – the list is endless. Better bag two!
5. Kurt Angerer Kies Gruner Veltliner 2019, Austria, £ 12.49, Virgin Wines Austria’s signature white grape comes in various styles but usually offers fresh, tangy, citrusy flavours, with gentle spice, a white pepper note and lively acidity, which makes it extremely food friendly, especially with fried favourites such as veal schnitzel or fish and chips.
Here, we have a broader style, with wonderful concentration, intensity and lots of class. Fragrant and exotic, there’s lime, nectarine and stone fruits galore, herbs, spice, rounded acidity with a marked freshness on the silky finish. Really stunning, we’d sink this with anything but if we had to choose, a lightly spicy fix of Thai food would be just the ticket. 6. McGuigan The Shortlist Eden Valley Riesling 2018, Australia, £ 14, Asda Another sommelier’s favourite, this sought- after producer makes a superbly crisp and enjoyable style of dry riesling that’s definitely one to try. With attractive aromas of lemon, lime and white flowers, pristine limey fruit is supported by zingy intensity, with fine acidity and the freshness to pair with many dishes. But it certainly chimes beautifully with chilli and lime squid or ceviche.
7. Barton & Guestier Passeport Provence Rose Magnum 2019, Cotes de Provence, France, £ 22.99 for 1.5L Waitrose
When it comes to entertaining al fresco, a magnum of Provencal pink is always in our summer edit. With appetising aromas of fragrant summer fruit and a lovely silky plushness to the dried berry, cherry and stone fruit flavours, hints of cream and dried herbs are coupled with a flash of florals, along with a brilliant freshness and purity supported by balanced acidity.
Elegant and engaging, this one’s a must for small gatherings and classic set lunches of salad nicoise topped with anchovies and black olives, shellfish, prawns or seafood pasta bursting with garlic. Otherwise, open on impulse and quaff under blue skies. Sante!